Treat yourself and your guests to creamy burrata bruschetta—perfect as an appetizer or side dish. Wondering what else to make with burrata cheese? Try burrata Caprese salad or arugula burrata salad.
What is Burrata Bruschetta?
Burrata bruschetta is a classic Italian antipasto that pairs creamy burrata cheese with crisp crostini and a fresh, flavorful Caprese-inspired topping.
Key Ingredients
I’m a big fan of bruschetta, and the creamy addition of burrata cheese makes it absolutely irresistible.
- Bread: Begin with quality bread cut into thick slices to hold the toppings. Classic bruschetta features toasted or grilled bread such as ciabatta, Italian bread, or a baguette. You want a crusty bread that will hold up to the tomato topping and burrata cheese.
What’s the best bread for bruschetta?
Serve Caprese on toasted crusty bread, rubbed with a crushed garlic clove for additional flavor. The best bread for bruschetta is ciabatta bread, French baguette, crostini, Dutch oven sourdough bread, or rustic Italian bread. Each provides a good base for holding the toppings without becoming too soggy. If you want to depart from the usual, spoon the tasty appetizer onto focaccia or flat bread.
- Olive Oil: Choose good quality extra virgin olive oil for the bread, Caprese, and garnish.
- Garlic: Enhance the flavor of the bread by rubbing the slices with a smashed garlic clove and incorporating minced garlic into the Caprese mixture.
- Tomatoes: I like using Roma tomatoes, Campari tomatoes, and vine-ripe tomatoes to make Caprese. Sweet cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes cut in half also work. Use jarred, roasted tomatoes, or roasted red peppers if you don’t have fresh tomatoes.
- Basil: Fresh basil leaves are the best part of Caprese.
- Spices: Add flavor to the tomatoes by seasoning them with kosher salt and black pepper.
- Burrata: Burrata cheese is the star with its gooey and rich center. If you can’t find burrata at the grocery store, experiment with other soft cheeses like ricotta or fresh mozzarella cheese.
- Toppings: Finish bruschetta burrata with olive oil and a drizzle of balsamic glaze. Then, top the slices with fresh basil, micro greens, or peppery arugula.
Additions and Substitutions
- Get creative with toppings. Finish the burrata Caprese balsamic glaze, honey, or pistachio pesto. Or try a spoonful of olive tapenade, capers, or slices of salty prosciutto.
- Experiment with mix-ins. Add slices of red onion, peppery arugula leaves, strawberries, mango, or peaches.
How to Make Burrata Bruschetta
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Brush olive oil lightly over both sides of each slice and rub them with a crushed garlic clove.
Option 1: Preheat the oven to 400°F (204℃). Arrange the bread slices in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 5-10 minutes until crisp and golden.
Option 2: Place the bread directly onto a preheated skillet. Toast the bread for 1-2 minutes per side until golden brown.
Step 2: Combine tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, olive oil, kosher salt, and black pepper in a mixing bowl.
Step 3: Remove the bread from the oven and spoon the tomato mixture over the top.
Step 4: Cut the burrata cheese into pieces and spoon it over the Caprese. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic glaze, and garnish with fresh basil.
How to serve the burrata cheese?
I like to quarter the burrata balls and arrange the pieces over the toasts, or switch things up by spreading the burrata on the bread first, then adding the classic Caprese salad. You can also leave the burrata whole or serve it in slices on the side, letting guests help themselves.
Expert Tips
- Toast the bread. Start with thick slices of toasted bread so it’s sturdy enough to hold all the toppings.
If you enjoy burrata bruschetta, try more appetizer recipes!
How to Serve Burrata Bruschetta
There are a few ways to serve the easy appetizer. You can stick with the classic method: layer the tomato mixture over the toasted bread and top it with creamy burrata. Or switch things up by spreading the burrata on the bread first, then adding the tomatoes. If you’re hosting, keep it casual and set out the toasted bread, Caprese topping, and burrata separately so everyone can build their own perfect bite.
What to Serve with Bruschetta?
A charcuterie board complete with cured meats such as salty prosciutto, salami, soppressata, cheeses, olives, and vegetable crudite is an excellent pairing for the antipasto.
This may seem unexpected, but I love serving the burrata bruschetta for brunch alongside a sausage and egg bake, sourdough banana muffins, fruit salad, and some crispy bacon or sausage.
Serve it as a starter for a cozy bowl of Instant Pot butternut squash soup or a creamy Bella Hadid pasta.
What To Do With Leftovers
- Refrigerate: Enjoy burrata bruschetta fresh, but if you end up with leftovers, store them in an airtight container for 3-4 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is burrata?
Burrata is a creamy Italian cheese made with mozzarella and fresh cream. The outer shell is mozzarella, but when you cut into it, you’ll find a creamy, soft interior called stracciatella that oozes out deliciously onto the bruschetta and crusty bread.
What is bruschetta made of?
Bruschetta is a classic Italian antipasto made with toasted bread topped with freshly diced tomatoes, basil, olive oil, garlic, and sometimes balsamic vinegar.
What can you put bruschetta on besides bread?
Do you eat bruschetta hot or cold?
Most people serve the bruschetta at room temperature. However, because you toast the bread beforehand, it may seem slightly warm if you eat the bread straight out of the oven.
If you prefer a warm appetizer, I recommend sautéing the tomatoes in a pan with sliced garlic and olive oil until they blister and soften. Pour the tomato mixture into a serving dish, garnish with fresh basil, and serve toasted bread and burrata on the side.
Where can I buy burrata?
Find the creamy cheese in the specialty cheese section of the grocery store deli.
More Recipes Using Tomato:
Burrata Bruschetta
- 8 slices crusty bread, ½ to 1-inch slices
- extra-virgin olive oil, for brushing
- 1 garlic clove, smashed
- 8 Roma tomatoes, diced
- 1 cup basil leaves, chiffonade, plus more for garnish
- 8-10 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more to garnish
- kosher salt, to taste
- coarse black pepper, to taste
- 2 large burrata cheese, cut in fourths
- balsamic glaze, for garnish
- microgreens, for garnish
- Brush olive oil lightly over both sides of each slice and rub them with a crushed garlic clove. Option 1: Preheat the oven to 400°F (204℃). Arrange the bread slices in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 5-10 minutes until crisp and golden.Option 2:Place the bread directly onto a preheated skillet. Toast the bread for 1-2 minutes per side until golden brown.
- Combine tomatoes, fresh basil, garlic, olive oil, kosher salt, and black pepper in a mixing bowl.
- Remove the bread from the oven and spoon the tomato mixture over the top.
- Cut the burrata cheese into pieces and spoon it over the Caprese. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic glaze, and garnish with fresh basil.
- Toast the bread. Start with thick slices of toasted bread so it’s sturdy enough to hold all the toppings.